On Saturday, Malaysia joined Indonesia in raising alarm bells about the military build-up in the region and the impact that the AUKUS pact, which includes Australia acquiring nuclear-propelled submarines, could have on regional stability.

Indonesia had for decades pursued an “aktif bebas”, or free and independent foreign policy.

“It’s never going to side with a partisan international alliance, so of course they will be pushing back.”

“They’re also going to be miffed because they were not consulted, just like on the Marines based in Darwin [announced a decade ago]. Despite that they won’t have a real problem, it’s just not in their interests or instincts to side with us.

“[Indonesian President] Jokowi, [Foreign Minister] Retno, [Defence Minister] Prabowo get this, they’re also miffed at what China is doing. They could be domestically wedged by their opponents so no one wants to say it publicly – this is classic south-east Asian behaviour. But like us, they have to balance economic interests and security concerns.”

“ASEAN governments are acutely aware of that and are worried that external powers are creating new architecture that doesn’t include them like the Quad and potentially AUKUS too

It is impossible to read this as anything other than a response to China’s rise, and a significant escalation of American commitment to that challenge. The United States has only ever shared this technology with the United Kingdom, so the fact that Australia is now joining this club indicates that the United States is prepared to take significant new steps and break with old norms to meet the China challenge.

Australia cannot have this capability while assuming that it does not come with heightened expectations that Australia will take America’s side in any dispute with China.

That is the real long-term significance of the deal ­– even more than the agreement to base Marines in Darwin, this deal signals that Australia is betting on the United States as a long-term partner in its region as China’s rise continues.

It is extraordinary that this momentous decision could be made without parliamentary or public scrutiny.

BRITISH soldiers could begin a yearly rotation in the NT, similar to the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, which could also be expanded, off the back of the newly formed trilateral security partnership announced by the federal government.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the Territory government was still going through the details of the new alliance, which includes a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Ms Manison said Darwin was an important location for the nation and the government was working to increase defence investment in the NT.

“We welcome investment when it comes to defence personnel, strategic defence assets here in the Northern Territory, and we’ll continue working with the Commonwealth government to deliver on what defence needs here in the Territory,” she said.

Dutton said the latest talks in Washington had “reinforced our shared commitment to ensuring an alliance that is match-fit to meet the strategic challenges ahead”.

He announced that Australia and the US would be “significantly enhancing our force posture cooperation”, including “greater air cooperation through rotational deployments of all types of US military aircraft to Australia” including bombers.

Dutton also indicated he would like to see an increase in the number of US troops coming on rotation through Darwin.

He said there would be more military exercises with the US, and greater combined exercises with other partners in the region. He was also open to the basing and storage of military supplies in Australia.

Australia’s defence minister says Aukus pact makes region safer and ‘no amount of propaganda can dismiss the facts’

After an SBS News investigation revealed women’s claims made against US marines stationed in the Northern Territory were shifted overseas or dropped, there are calls for the Senate to look into the issue and for a legal agreement covering US military personnel in Australia to be revised.

Senator Rex Patrick said the cases were “awful” and encouraged women to come forward.

Professor Donald Rothwell, an expert on international law at the Australian National University, said the 1963 SOFA should be revised and brought up to modern standards in light of SBS News’ revelations.

“It’s time this SOFA was looked at to see whether it’s robust enough to protect Australian citizens.”

Women Veterans Network Australia spokeswoman and former Australian Army major Dr Kerry Summerscales said calls for a revision of Australia's SOFA with the US was "urgently overdue".